2022 - Snow crab fishery opening date: Crab Fishing Areas 12 (12, 18, 25, 26) and 12E

Moncton and Quebec – April 11, 2022

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the opening date of the snow crab fishery in Crab Fishing Areas 12 (12, 18, 25 and 26) and 12E. As per the Terms of Reference of the Committee for setting the opening date for the fishery, the considerations to trigger the targeted fishery opening date includes:

• The southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (including the Bay of Chaleurs) is ice free and fishing can occur in a safe manner.
• The fishery may open even if some wharves are not entirely free of ice.

The fishery in Crab Fishing Area 12 (12, 18, 25, 26) and Area 12E will open at 5:00 AM Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) on Wednesday April 13, 2022.

The fishery will close on June 30, 2022 at 23:59 hrs (Atlantic Daylight Time). All gear must be removed from the water by the end of the day June 30th, but landing of traps and crabs can occur on July 1st.

All licence conditions will be valid for the entire fishing season.

All aid to navigation buoys may not all have been placed. Vessel operators are advised to exercise extreme caution.

Furthermore, it is reminded that, during the period where fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the licence holder to take into account the marine safety notices issued, among others, by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada, as well as the standards and best practices in marine safety, and to take all measures to ensure a safe fishery.